House Democrats whip for Iran deal
Price and Doggett have marshaled a broad array of support in the caucus, from moderates like themselves to liberals in the whip team — all the way up to Pelosi herself, who announced her strong support for the accord shortly after it was announced on July 14.
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Pelosi joins an interesting collection of advocates. Doggett and Price are far more moderate than the whip operation’s other leaders. Other deal backers, such as Reps. Barbara Lee of California, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Peter Welch of Vermont and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, are some of Congress’ most liberal members.
Buoyed by personal lobbying from Obama, members and Democratic staff say they already have the votes necessary to sustain a veto from Obama if Republicans, as expected, advance legislation to disapprove of the agreement. Obama would need close to 145 Democrats to back the deal if that happens, and senior aides have pointed to the 152 Democrats who signed an early 2015 Price-Doggett-Schakowsky letter supporting the framework of the agreement as evidence they can back the president.
But with anti-deal groups like AIPAC pouring $20 million to $40 million into TV advertisements blasting the deal, Democratic lawmakers said in interviews they weren’t taking any chances. Shortly after Obama announced during a 7 a.m. White House news conference that negotiators in Vienna had sealed a deal, the half-dozen lead supporters in Congress touched base about re-engaging Democrats who had signed onto the letter sent earlier this year.
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The president also warned the freshman lawmakers he met with last week — none of whom have committed to supporting the deal — that the White House would be closely watching their votes and no Democrat would get a pass for voting against it.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/house-democrats-whip-iran-deal-120642.html
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